The 36 Stratagems to Solve Singapore's Labour Shortage Permanently

(Read 4 Weeks to a Better Manager at here)
We know that with the Singapore's economy growing at 3% to 4% this year, companies should be enjoying at least 5% to 10% of sales growth.  Yet many businesses that I talked to, including the famous restaurant at Orchard Road that I attended, are seeing stagnant sales.  Some are even experiencing declining sales.  Why?

Lack of Labour. Because of the low birth rates from 1990 onwards, there are far fewer job seekers than job providers.  This, coupled with the continued tightening of foreign labour, means that it is the lack of labour, not lack of customers, that is causing sales to stagnant.  Is there a solution?

The solution must be a permanent one, that is, it should once and for all solve this labour shortage problem, at least for the next 10 to 20 years. It should also not increase the cost of doing business, yet at the same time does not require government's funding.  What is this perfect solution?  

Increase in Productivity.  This simply means ever more output with ever less labour.  There are at least 36 Ways to Increase in Labour Productivity:

1. Trained staff - using both External and Internal Training (and get $36K cash under PIC)
2. Work Smart staff
3. Cooperative staff with Strong Teamwork
4. Collaborative staff with sufficient Competition
5. Outsourcing
6. High Morale staff
7. High Morals staff
8. Automate
9. Increase in Automation and Computer Speed
10. Better attitude staff
11. Better Management
12. Better Leadership
13. Work with Competitors
14. Work with Government
15. Work with Trade Associations
16. Work with Tertiary Institutions
17. Work with Overseas Partners
18. Work with Vendors
19. Work with Customers
20. Increase sales with Effective Sales Strategies
21. Increase Average Dollar Sale (read here for The 36 Stratagems used by McDonalds)
22. Increase Customers Transaction Size
23. Increase Customers' Transaction Frequency
24. Down-size to Focus on More Profitable Trades, resulting in higher profit margins
25. Improve Cash Flow, leading to higher sales
26. Reduce Overheads, especially Premise cost
27. Reduce Wastage, Rework and Duplicated Work
28. Reduce travelling time by having mobile office and flexible work arrangements
29. Reduce meetings and meeting time that are going nowhere
30. Reduce Conflicts
31. Increase in Staff Commitment via Ownership Strategies (that make them own their work)
32. Goal Setting and Achievement
33. Connect and Touch the Hearts of Staff with Love Strategies
34. Build Loyal Staff
35. Efficiency and Productivity
36. Effectiveness

I could just go on and on, but will stop at 36 ways because you know that there are plenty of ways to solve this problem.  All we need is to open our minds, open our hearts and put our hearts and souls together.  Stop Whining and Start Winning.  We ARE THE Solution.  

By Andy Ng, Business Coach and Trainer at Asia Trainers, details at here. Related articles:

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